Automatic expansion-valve.



G. P. CARROLL.

AUTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE.

APPLIOATION-IILED JAN. 7, 1907.

" Patented Dec. 15, 3908.

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GEORGE P. CARROLL, OF BRIDGEIORT, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC EXFANSION-VALVE.

Application filed January To all whom it may concern:

- Be ithnown that I, Gnonsn P. CARROLL,

a citizeir'of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Automatic Expansion-Valve, of which the following is a s 'iecilication.

My invention relates in general to improvcments in reducing valves such as permit fluid to pass from one chamber to another chamber until the pressure in the second chamber reaches a prede ermined limit which 'is thereafter approximately maintained.

t especially relates to improvements in automatic expansion valves which, in refrigerating systems, are placed between the high pressure side and the low pressure side so as to permit the condensed and liquefied refrigerant to pass freely from its container so as to vaporize into the ex ansion coils until the pressure in the coils reaches a predetermined limit, which is approximately maintained thereafter so lohg as the Ilow continues.

The means employed are detail sim li fications and improvements upon the va vc constructionshown in the United States Patents to Ballcntine, No. 549,426, Nov. 5, 1895; and to Marshall, No. 785,265, Mar. 21, 1905, as will hereinafter appear. i

As representing the embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the valve with connectedparts; Fig. 2 is a view from beneath of an entrance piece; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inner end of said piece. Fig. 4 is a special form of set screw and adjacent parts.

A lower casing 1 has cast as a part thereof a perforated lateral entrance boss 2 and a perforated lateral outlet 3, the axis of the outlet being preferably slightly below the axis of the entrance boss. The lower casing is flanged at its top and superimposed upon 1t is an upper casing 4 correspondingly flanged so as to hold a flat disk diaphragm 5 between the flanges clamped together by bolts 6. A by pass 7, having a union 8, in line with the llan es, connects the upper and lower casings and is fitted with a stop valve 9. Extending through the diaphragm is a center screw 10, having at its top an annular pocket for receiving the lower end of the spring H. This spring is compressed by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

*1,- 1907. Serial No. 351,068.

collar 12, which is held from turning by a key 13 fitting into a vertical groove 14. Threaded into the collar 12 is an adjusting screw 15, which extends up through a suitable stulling box and is provided at its upper end with a wrench section for turning or adjusting the same when it is desired to regulate the action of the diaphragm.

ilhreadcd on to the center screw 10, which extends down through the diaphragm, is a slotted bar 16, cylindrical. in form; it is guided by the walls of. the lower casing, but l'its somewhat loosely therein. By this loose pass up between the bar and the casing and impinge against the under side of the (llaphragin 5. Threaded into the slotted bar 16 and extending upwards into its slot is a valve lug 17, preferably conical in form, which is ocked in )lace at its lower end by a lock nut 18. The ower end of the lower casing 1 is .closed by a packing collar, which is fastened in place bye bottom cap 19. An entrance piece 20, inserted from without, rests in the perforation of the lateral entrance boss 2 for a part of its length so that its inner end abuts against the inner wall of the lower casing 1, preferably above the outlet 3. So much of the entrance piece as is within the entrance boss fully occupies the same and-is thereby steadied. This entrance piece is preferably a solid rod of comparatively large diameter bored out centrally from its outer end up to a place that will be in'thc axial center of the lower casing 10, making a bore 21. Thence the piece has a (,lownward bore 22 at right auglcs to the other bore, endim in a conical valve seat 23, on its under sit e upon which the valve plug 174921.11 be seated. So much of the entrance piece as projects inside of the lower casing 1 has its sides and bottom surface made plane as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 so as to loosely lit the slot of the slotted bar '16 and so as to afford a better seat for the valve plug 17. A set screw 24 pierces that part of the casing called the lateral entrance boss 2 and {its into the entrance piece 20 without reaching to the bore 21. This set screw of itself will keep the entrance piece from turning or twisting in its place and from moving backward or forward. For greater security,

entrance piece .20 abuts and fits into it'at lit a suflicient space is left so that gas can however, another set screwQf) pierces that part 01 the lower casing 1 against which then ;coil-as determined in practice by reference some place other than along its axis. This set screw thus has the same effect as the set screw 24. An inlet pipe 26 enters the outer end of the lateral entrance boss 2 so as to lead into the bore 21 and is held in place and so as to prevent leakage by the gland 27 and the pacxing The lateral outlet 3 is in such position as to receive the current of fluid emerging from the valve seat 2S without deiiection and to pass it out through the outlet pipe 29. I

The valve may be supported in a bracket 30, in which the upper casing 4 is fastened by small clamping bolts. I 1

in Fig. d is shown a preferred form of set screw 31 to be used in place of those shown in the other figures. As shown the casing 1 is recessed at 32 as a stuffing box and the set screw has an enlargement at its upper end so that it can hold in place the packing 33.

The method of operation is as follows: When a vacuum is being pumped in a refrigerating system preliminary to char ing it with anhydrous ammonia, the stop vaTve 9 is left open so that the air above the diaphra m 5 is pumped out. The ammonia is 'radua ly introduced into the system and is allowed to reach a pressure in the expansion coilssomewhat below the minimum ressure that will be subsequently maintains The stop valve 9 is then closed. When the system is in op eration, liquid ammonia enters the inlet pipe 26 and the entrance piece 20, and emerges as vappr from the valve seat 23, the valve plug 1/ eing normally depressed from off its seat by force of gravity and by the spring 11 if necessary. Thence the expanded fluid passes out through the outlet 3 and the outlet pipe 29. A part of the expanded fluid, however, passes up between the inner walls of the lower casing l and the slotted bar 16 so as to im inge against the diaphragm 5. When sucii pressure reaches a predetermined limit as determined by adjusting the spring 11, the diaphragm tends to lift the slotted bar 16 and to seat the valve plug 17 so that the pressure of the gas in the expansion coils is kept practically constant.

When used as an automatic ex. ansion valve in a refri crating system, the ocation of the valve in t 1e gas circuit is as is shown in the above patents. The valve may also be located in an expansion coil just beyond an expansion valve operated by hand or so operated as to remain open during such time as the compressor is running. it is then adjusted so as to permit of the maximum density and tension of gas, in all of the expansion co'il beyond itself, that can be maintained in correspondence with the temperature to be maintained in that part of the expansion to the ammonia tables/f This valve is an improvement on the valves shown in the above patents in that: The enl season trance piece cannot be turned or twisted around in the parts which surround it so to dislocate the valve seat nor can it be moved backward towards the stuffing box gland so as to cause a like dislocation the packing I insufficient to hold it in its forward position. There is no chance of'lealrage through a broken diaphragm from the circuit into the atmosphere nor of leakage of air from above the diaphragm into the gas circuit. The gas outlet is at the nearest oint to the place of emergence from the va ve seat and the course of the gas circuit is not inter rupted. The closeness of contact of the entrance piece with its environment for its entire length within the entrance boss holds the entrance piece steady and prevents its being rocked by the impact of valve plug on its seat. a

I claim:

1. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a recipro eating slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending u ward into its slot, a rod inserted throu h sai boss and having a single channel wiich channel proceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater, fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

2. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar dcpendin from said diaphragm, a valve supported )3; said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss, abutting at its inner end against the opposite. Wall of said chamber and having a single channel which channel roceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamber as asset for said valve, a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when op-i posed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

3. In combination a chamber havin a perforated entrance boss an d ancutlet, a iaphragm above said boss and outlet-and closmg the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss and having a channel from its outer end emerging on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, a set screw ceases iercing the wall of said chamber andfitting into the inner end of said rod, and means perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diahragm above said boss and outlet and closmg the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss and having a channel from its outer end emerging on its under sidewithin saidfchamher as a seat for said valve, a set screw piercing the Wall of said chamber and fitting into the inner end of said rod between its axis and circumference, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid pressure on .its under side so as to seat said valve.

5. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reoipro' eating slotted bar dependin from said dia phragm, a valve supported by saith bar and through sait boss and having a channel from its outer end emerging on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said vitlve, a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, a second set screw piercing the wall of said chamber and fitting into the innerend of said rod, and means forcing said dia extending upward into its slot, a fodiinserted phragm downward except when opposed bygreater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

6. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphra m above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar fitting .loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported bysaid bar and extending u ward into its slot, a rod inserted through Stl( boss, making a close contact with the inner surface of said boss for substantially its entire length .thercin and having a single channel which channel proceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chainber as a seat for said valve, means for preventing said rod from turning in said boss, and means "forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

7. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, :1 diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocatii'ig slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss, making a close contact with the inner surface of said boss for substantially its entire length therein and having channel proceeds from its outer cud 211K emerges on its under side within said chamher as a seat for said valve, means in contact with said rod and said boss for prcvcnting said rod from turning in said boss, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by grcatcr fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

8. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, at diaphra m above said boss and outlet and closmg the top of said chamber, a riwiprocating slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending u ward into its slot, a rod inserted through sai boss, making a close contact with the inner surface of said boss for substantially its entire length therein and having a single channel which channel proceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamher as a seat for said valve, a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, and means forcing said diaphragm downwardexcept when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seal. said valve.

9. in combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, at dia- )hragm above said boss and outlet and closmg the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss, makin a closecontact with the innor surface of said boss "for substantially its entire length therein, abutting at its inner end against the opposite wall of said chamber and having a single channel which channel roceeds from its outer cud and emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, means for preventing said rod from turning in said'boss, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when op posed by greater iluid )rcssure on its under side so as to seat said va vc.

10. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, at diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted through said boss, making a close contact with the innor surface of said boss for substantially its entire length therein, abutting at its inner end against the opposite wall of said chamher and having a single channel which channel proceeds from its outer end and. emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, and means a single channel whicli.

forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid rcssure on its under side so as to seat said va ve.

1 In combination a chamber having a perforated entrai'ice boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar fitting loosely in said chamber and depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted ,through said boss, making a close contact with the inner surface of said boss forsubstantially its entire length therein and having a single channel which channel proceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve,

a set screw piercing said boss and fitting into said rod, a second chamber above said diaphragm, and a spring operative so that said s ring and fluid pressure in said second chamber will force said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its underside so as to seat said valve.

12. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above said boss and outlet and vclosing the top of said chamber, a reciprocat ing slotted bar depending from said diaphragni, a valve supported by said bar and extending upward into its slot, a rod inserted. through said boss, making a close contact with the inner surface of said boss for substantially its entire length therein and having a single channel which channel proceeds from its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, means for preventing said rod from turning in. said boss, a second chamber above said diaphragm, and a spring operative so that said spring and fluid pressure in said second chamber will force said diaphragm downward except when \opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

13. In combination a chamber having a perforated entrance boss and an outlet, a diaphragm above-said boss and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar depending from said diai contact with said rod and said boss for pres eoasoe stantially its entire length therein, abutting at its inner end against the opposite wall of said chamber and having a single channel which channel proceeds Prom its outer end and emerges on its under side within said chamber as a seat for said valve, means in venting said rod from turning in said boss, a second chamber above said diaphragm, and a spring operative so that said spring and fluid pressure in said second chamber will force said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

14. In combination a chamber having an entrance aperture and an outlet, a diaphragm above said aperture and outlet and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar and extending into its slot, a rod inserted through. said aperture so as to project into said chamber and to abut against its opposite wall and having a passage from its outer end emerging on its under side Within said chamber as a seat for said valve, means to hold said rod steady, and means forcing said diaphragm downward except when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve.

15. In combination a chamber having an inlet port, a diaphragm above said port and closing the top of said chamber, a reciprocating slotted bar depending from said diaphragm, a valve supported by said bar, extending into its slot and adapted for seating on said port, an outlet below-said port, and means forcing said diaphragm downward ex cept when opposed by greater fluid pressure on its under side so as to seat said valve."

enoncs r. CARROLL.

Witnesses:

LAonnNon J. GILL, A. MAUDE Karena. 

